Letter: First responders' pay should reflect praise we give them

As terrible as the various terrorist attacks have been within the United States, one beacon of light always makes itself evident. That light is the courage we all observe as first responders (firefighters, EMS personnel, police, etc.) put their safety on the line to save injured or vulnerable people. The praise they deserve is heaped upon them by society, and news outlets as well. However, it has long disturbed me that these individuals, like teachers, do not receive the compensation they deserve relative to the service they render to society.

Since, in my opinion, the aforementioned opinion is monolithic, why shouldn’t politicians and others pass bills that address this inequity?

As government workers, there will be some that oppose such measures for ideological reasons. However, since society cannot function without first responders (or U.S. soldiers), I think ideology has no merit pertaining to this issue. Government does have a role in society, and if noble causes such as this are not addressed in some way, can we really claim to appreciate the heroism and sacrifices mentioned before?

Actions, rather than words and speeches, would be a nice way for politicians to ensure that the issue of first-responder pay, like teacher salaries, is added to the political discourse.